Brian Minto is frustrated - but still patient.

"It takes patience in boxing," the Butler heavyweight said. "If you don't have that, this game will eat you alive."

Minto, 19-1, had been scheduled for a rematch with Vinnie Maddalone, 22-2, next month in New York on ESPN2 Friday Night at the Fights, but promoters dropped that bout in favor of featuring the more recognizable David Tua in the main event.

Minto then was scheduled to fight Jermell Barnes (17-8) June 16 at the Butler Days Inn.

Now that fight has been moved back to June 28, still at the Butler Days Inn.

"There were some snags with the original date," promoter Michael Acri said. "I really can't get into it."

"I don't know what's going on anymore," Minto said. "I don't know who to believe anymore. Tua broke his hand and can't even fight on that card. I have no idea what that main event is now.

"My promoters (Lou Duva Boxing, Inc.) aren't doing a very good job of moving me along. I'm not real happy with them right now."

Two other heavyweights in the Duva camp - including 23-0 Samuel Peters - have fought on national television recently.

Barnes, a former North American Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion, was 14-0 at one point, but has dropped eight of his last 11 fights.

Barnes only has a handful of knockouts in his career, but has been knocked out just once himself.

"I'll keep pressuring him," Minto said. "He's a game guy. He likes to stand in there and fight, but I don't think he'll be able to take it against me.

"I've knocked out a lot bigger guys than a 200-pound guy."

Acri said Barnes' record is deceiving, that he's fought a number of high-quality opponents.

"He beat Robert Daniels for that title (Dec. 5, 2003) and Daniels was one of the top cruiserweights around," Acri said. "Barnes is better than (Tony) Tubbs, better than (David) Polk."

Polk and Tubbs are Minto's most recent opponents. He scored an 8-round unanimous decision over Polk March 23 at the Butler Days Inn and dropped a 10-round split decision to Tubbs Dec. 30 in Chester, W.Va.

Those are Minto's only two fights since last July 23, when he knocked out Maddalone on ESPN2.

"I need to be in the ring more often than this," Minto said. "The last time I waited four months between fights (before facing Tubbs), I didn't do very well.

"My next fight after this one will be Maddalone. That's the fight I want. I've talked to Maddalone on the phone and he wants it, too. We both need the exposure.

"ESPN wants the fight. Somebody somewhere will put it together if the Duvas can't," Minto added.

Minto said he's been told the Maddalone fight may happen in August, "but there's all kinds of rumors out there."

Tickets for the Minto-Barnes fight will go on sale next weekend at the Days Inn. They are $60 for golden ringside, $40 for ringside and $20 for general admission.

The under-card has not been announced.